Refrigerator



July 31, 1951 Filed Sept. 15, 1945 s. MUFFLY 2,562,811

REFRIGERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7a a Q:

IN VEN TOR.

67217)! Mar/fl y.

2% zfue Patented July 31, 19.51

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE namonns'ron om may. Springfield. on

Application Septemlrer is, ms, Serial m. 618.823 (c1. ss-issi "Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerators, particularly to those of the domestic type. and has for its principal object the provision of a device of this type having certain new and useful features rendering it of greater usefulness than conventional constructions.

One purpose of this invention is to provide dehydratingmeansforadryltorllespaoefor foods not necessarily refrigerated.

Another obiect is to provide a small compartment within the refrigerated space which is held at a slightly higher temperature, particularly for the short-time storage of butter.

A further obiect is to utilise the heat transfer which warms the butter compartment for the additional purpose of dehydrating air in the warm dry storage compartment.

A still further object is to provide for draining moisture condensed within the main food compartment into the condensing unit compartment along with the moisture collected by dehydration of the warm dry compartment. discharging all such water onto a warm portion of the condensing unit so as to re-evaporate it to ambient air.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional view of the lower part of a household refrigerator showing the warm, dry

compartment.

Fig. 2 is a fractional view of Fig. 1, showing a modified form of the dehydrating device.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a further modification in which the dehydration is accomplished by means of the suction tube instead of by the cooling effect of the refrigerator liner.

Fig. 4 is a third modification. quite similar to Fig. 8, but arranged for location of the dehydrating coil in the machinery compartment instead of in the storage space.

Fig. 5 is a further modification in which the butter compartment is is warmed by heat transferred from the dehydrating coil It to the liner of the main food compartment by means of a secondary refrigerant circuit.

Fig. 0 is another modification in which provision is made for collection of condensate from the main food space of the cabinet, this water being evaporated to room air by the same means employed for evaporating the water removed from air in the warm. dry storage compartment.

Fig. 7 is a modified detail of Fig. 8 showing solid cone I in place of the sheet metal cone at.

Fig. 8 is an alternative arrangement for dehydrating compartment I and dissipating moisture to the compartment It by means of an absorbent er adsorbent.

In the drawhigs, the refrigerator cabinet is identified by the numeral l and the liner by the numeral I. The bottom sheet, below the insulation, is identified by the numeral 8 throughout the figures. and will serve in connection with the insulated dividing wall I between the dry storage compartment I and the machinery compartment ll toshowthe relationships of the figures. The compartment I represents an improvement over the compartment enclosed by housing ltd. Fig. l of my United States Patent No. 2,145,773, issued January 1. i089, and described on page 8. column 1, lines 58 to 68 thereof. in addition to being heated through the wall which divides it from the condensing unit compartment. as in the issued patent, the present application discloses means for dehydrating the air of the warm. dry compartment I.

The motor-compressor assembly is is located in the compartment H and the drawer II in the compartment 1. The door ll of the compartment I may or may not extend to form a fioor for the compartment H, but in any event it is desirable to have the compartment 1 closed by this floor and by the drawer front II. A gasket II is provided to minimize air leakage between the drawer front and the cabinet face. A drawer pull may be made by cutting through the face of the drawer front. but is preferably made air tight by means of a stamped metal drawer pull closure 23. with which the drawer catch 24 may be integrally formed. This drawer catch engages the spring 25, which is attached to a fixed portion of the cabinet. This spring and catch are so related that the drawer front is held against the gasket when the drawer is closed.

The dehydrating tube 2! of Fig. i has attached to it, preferably by welding, one or more angles fl. the horizontal legs of which contact the liner 3. Air flows from the compartment I by way of the fitting II and the tube I3 into the dehydrating tube or chamber 21, where the air is chilled sumciently to condense some water from it and the dehydrated air returns through the tube ii to the compartment I. Water collecting in the tube 21 flows to the right and collects in the trap 31 until there is sufiicient water to drain through the tube as. whereupon the condensate falls upon the motor-compressor unit II and is evaporated to ambient air by the heat of this unit. where the tube 39 passes through the sheet I, a sealing and vibration absorbing flange member 4|, made of rubber or equivalent material, is arranged to prevent flow of air into the insulation in the refrigerator wall from the exterior. Likewise, tbstubesttsndilareeeaiedtothesheetlby means of somewhat similar grommets or sealing devices 42. If desired, these tubes may be welded to the sheet 5, but in the case of Fig. l. a vibration absorbing connection is shown for reasons which will be apparent from later description herein.

The discharge tube It, which leads from the compressor to the condenser. has a heat exchange section .1 in thermal contact with a portion of the ube. I3 within the space H. Hot gi'fsleaving compressor is thus made to heat the column of air within the vertical tube 33, thereby inducing an upward flow of air in the tube a and a downward flow of cooler air through the tube It. Flow of air through the tube It is prevented by the water collected in the trap 11. It will be observed that the tube 33 extends upwardly into the tube 21 far enough to prevent condensate from draining into the tube I8, and that the upper end of the tube 33 is above the water level in the trap 31.

The angle 2! welded to the tube 21 may merely contact the liner 3 or be welded thereto. The former is suggested as preferable for ease of assembly.

In order to obtain a greater heat transfer from the dehydrating device to the cabinet liner, a stamping I, as shown in Fig. 2, may be substituted for the pipe 21. The pipe 33 serves the same purpose as in Fig. l and pipes iii and I" are equivalent to SI and 3!! respectively. The trap eflect is obtained in the bottom of the stamped pan ll by means of the return bend effect is obtained from the small enclosure It by means of the coil 11 and the coil ll instead of cooling the space i with a section of the suction tube as is done in Figs. 3 and 4. The coils l1 and 18 are formed of one continuous tube and charged with a volatile refrigerant so that they form a secondary refrigerating system of which 11 is the condenser and it is the evaporator.

Liquid refrigerant evaporates is the coil It and the vapor flows upwardly to the coil 11 where it recohdenses and the liquid flows back to the bottom of coil 18 where it is again evaporated to absorb heat from the space 65 and from water vapor condensed upon the coil from air which circulates between the space I (Fig. 4) and space 65. The condensation of refrigerant vapor in the coil I1 heats the portion of the liner 3 immediately below the space 18. This space is enclosed and provided with a door so that the temperature of the space It may be several degrees higher than the air temperature prevailing within the main food compartment of the refrigerator. The main purpose of this small space It is for the storage of butter at a temperature suitable for table use. A fractional portion of the compartment 18 is also seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Such compartments have in the past been heated by electrical means or by heat leakat the top of pipe I". Variations in the area covered by the pan II on the bottom of the liner 3, or in the conductivity provided between the pipe I! and the liner 3, will make it possible for the designer to provide ample cooling effect for the dehydration of air without allowing excessive heat transfer which will seriously ail'ect the efficiency of the refrigerator as a whole.

Fig. 3 shows the suction tube tl formed into a coil 6| within the dry storage compartment I. This coil is relatively cool, so that, in the event of there being high humidity air in the compartment I, condensate will collect on this coil and drip into the pan '3. Such condensate will flow through the trap 281 in the tube 238 to drip onto the motor-compressor unit It as explained in connection with Fig. 1.

The construction of Fig. 3 avoids the necessity for tubes through the bottom sheet 8, but occupies some space in the compartment I, thereby calling for a reduction in the height of at least a portion of the side walls of the drawer II.

The method of Fig. 3 may be modified as shown in Fig. 4 to avoid use of space in the compartment I. The tube '0 is formed into a coil Ill located in the condensing unit chamber it, which is enclosed by an insulated wall '1. The chamber '5 is connected with the compartment 1 near the top and bottom of it. so that the warmer air in compartment I will flow into chamber it through the upper one of these passages and return through the lower one. Preferably, the direction or flow 0! suction gas through the coil lil is upwardly, as indicated, but this is not nry. P rticularly if the chamber is and the coil ill are made more nearly flat and with less height. A trap "1 is formed in the tube 8" for the purpose described in connection with the other figures.

In Fig. 5, the insulated chamber it is enclosed by insulated wall 01 as in Fig. 4, but the cooling age from outside of the refrigerator, but the arrangements shown by Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 'i are improvements over previous practice in that the heat transfer device which warms the butter compartment serves the additional purpose of dehydrating the air of the warm dry compartment 1.

While a small amount of heat is allowed to enter the refrigerated space for the purpose of warming the butter compartment It, this heat transfer accomplishes the additional purpose of dehydrating the air of compartment 1. This is more emcient than the previous practice of allowing heat from the room to enter the butter compartment directly. It is much more efllcient than the practice of placing an electrical heating element within the butter compartment, which not only robs the refrigerator of some of its refrigeration, but uses electrical energy in doin so.

Fig. 6 shows the butter compartment 16 heated in a difierent manner without the use of the secondary refrmerating system ll-I8. Heat is transferred to the butter compartment by metallic conductivity through the tubular member I! which is contacted internally by air in open communication with the compartment It and externally by air in open communication with the compartment I. The result is a slight warming of the compartment It and the condensation of moisture on the outer surface of the member 82.

The cup I4 is inturned at its top to minimize air circulation and splash of water while allowing water to drain into it from the outside of II. Tube It may extend upward within 82 to form a trap to prevent air flow into and out of the refrigerated space if desired. When the water level rises sufliciently within the trap lb or 88 it flows irom the outlet is onto the motor-compressor unit ll.

Fig. 6 also illustrates the method of disposing of condensate which collects on the lining of the food compartment or on any cooling surface within that compartment. As shown in Fig. 6, the rear lining of the food compartment is cooled by an evaporator coil so that the lining of aseasu the food compartment also acts as the cooling surface for that compartment. Preferably, the temperature of the liner is not low enough to collect and hold frost, thus moisture which condenses on the liner is free to flow downwardly into the gutter 92 which extends across the rear of the bottom of the liner and forwardly on each side in case the side walls of the liner are also cooled. This gutter I! may have a slight fall so that water drains into the gutter I, which is located below the butter compartment and concealed thereby. The gutter it drains into the interior of the tubular member 8!, so that all moisture collecting on the cooling surfaces of the main food compartment will drain into the trap in 08 to join the water collected on the outside of the tubular member II from the air of compartment I.

The moisture thus collected may optionally drip at the outlet 88 onto the housing of the motor-compressor unit, as shown herein, onto the condenser connected therewith or onto a fibrous material or extended surface from which the water evaporates readily to room air. The flow of condensate will be substantially constant and at a very low rate, so that it is quite easily reevaporated to the air of the room in which the refrigerator is located.

By extending the bottom end of 82 and dropping the cup at a corresponding distance the water level, which is barely visible in the cup ll in Fig. 6, will seal the bottom end of the tubular member 82. The sealing at this point is optional since a slight leakage of air also serves the purpose of heating th compartment I6 and dehydrating the compartment I. either by dilution of its atmosphere with cooler air which contains less water vapor per cubic foot or by the migration of water vapor from compartment 1 to the refrigerated space.

In Fig. 6 the unit I3 is shown as supported by means of four springs which connect the ears 95 with the supports 98. High pressure vapor from the compressor passes through tube 45 to the condenser I00 and liquid refrigerant flows from the condenser through capillary tube III! to the evaporator 50, which contacts the liner 1 to cool the air in the main food compartment.

In Fig. 7 the lining 3 has a much smaller hole through it than is seen in Fig. 6, this hole registering with the center of the cone IIll so that water which drains down the gutter 94 enters the hole IIi5. Surrounding this solid metal cone which provides high conductivity there is a conical baille IIlIi which may be made of metal or of thermally non-conductive material. This cone is provided with a number of openings ill! for the circulation of air and its bottom diameter is less than the top diameter of the cup I09 into which water drips from the cone I or the cone I06. These parts are located inside of a sleeve Iii which may be either metallic or of non-conducting material, the sleeve being gasketed to the liner 3 and to the bottom sheet 5, to each of which it is secured by means of screws. The upper screws may also secure the cone I".

Air follows the path indicated by arrows, contasting the cold cone IN and condensing moisture thereon to drip into the cup I09 and fill the trap 88 before draining through the outlet 89 which is seen in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modification of the invention in which moisture from the space I is absorbed or adsorbed and later released in the warmer compartment I I as the hygroscopic agent 6 carrying the water is activated by the rise of temperature occasioned by rotation of the cylinder or drum Ill.

This drum is supported by its shaft II which has end bearings in the insulating wall I and is surrounded by thermal insulation III. which forms the core of the cylinder IIl. Immediately surrounding the insulating material is a sleeve III and radiating from this are dividing walls I22. Both III! and Ill may optionally be made of metal or non-conducting material. The spaces between the dividing walls I are filled with an absorbent or adsorbent material I which may for instance be silica gel. Surrounding the extremities of the walls I22 and enclosing the material I is a screen I and outside of this a cylinder I of perforated metal.

In use the drum H4 is balanced and mounted on substantially frictionless bearings so that a slight increase in gravity of the material I which is exposed to the space I will cause that side of the drum Ill to fall, thus providing the energy for rotating the drum. When the absorbent material is exposed to the cooler compartment I it absorbs moisture and when it is exposed to the warmer compartment II it loses moisture by evaporation, thus the average density of the material I exposed to the space I will be greater than that of the partially dried material exposed to the warmer compartment I I. The effect is to transfer moisture from the air of space I to the air of space II, which is open to the atmosphere of the room so that the moisture is dissipated.

Instead of the continual evaporation of a small amount of condensate. the material used to absorb or adsorb water might in the above case be periodically activated by means of heat. This period of activation might coincide with the cycling of the condensing unit, thus making the activation automatic during each running period of the compressor or other pressure imposing ele'- ment. For the purpose of simplicity in this specification and claims, I herein use the word "absorb" in its broader sense, including both absorption and adsorption.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the motor-compressor unit I! is supported by means oi springs II, which are attached to the tube 3!. This method of supporting the motorcompressor unit is made practicable by the presence of the tube It and the fact that it is supported by the vibration absorbing member II. To provide against excessive sway of the motorcompressor unit and to hold it in place during shipment, the stops I! are attached to the base of the cabinet and so spaced as to allow a limited amount of free movement of the assembly II. There are preferably three of the springs 10 and three of the stops I5, one of the latter being located as shown in Fig. 1 so that only this one stop need be removed for removal of the unit I3. By locating the upper end of the stops 15 nearer to the bottom edge of the unit I3, it will be possible to remove the unit IS without removing any of the stops II. The unit It is merely lifted so that it rests upon one or more of the stops 15 while the springs II are unhooked.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet, means enclosing a relatively large refrigerated space, means enclosing a relatively small space in heat transfer relation with said large space, means enclosing a third space in said cabinet arranged to be maintained at a higher temperature than either of aces, 1

the first two said spaces, and heat transfer means being so constructed and arranged as to cause condensation of moisture from the air in said higher temperature space and to convey a limited quantity of heat to said small space.

2. In a refrigerator, a main food storage oompartment, means for refrigerating said compartment, a smaller compartment within said main compartment cooled by conduction of heat therefrom to said main compartment, a third relatively warm compartment outside of said main compartment, and heat transfer means arranged to dehydrate the air of said warm compartment by conducting heat from said air to said smaller compartment.

3. In a refrigerator, a thermally insulated compartment, cooling means exposed to air within said compartment, a smaller compartment in thermally conductive relationship with the first said compartment, a substantially non-refrigerated space located outside of the first said compartments, and heat exchange means arranged to transfer a limited amount of heat from said non-refrigerated compartment to said smaller compartment, such transfer of heat being effective to increase the temperature of said smaller compartment and to condense water vapor from air within said non-refrigerated compartment.

4. In a refrigerator, a cool food storage space, means for cooling air in said space and thereby condensing water from the air of said space, a warm dry compartment, means for condeming water from the air in said warm dry compartment and thereby decreasing its humidity, and means for re-evaporating water condensed by both said means to air exterior of said spaces.

5. In a refrigerator having insulated walls, a refrigerating system, a food storage space enclosed by said walls and cooled by said system, a

liner for said space, means exterior of said space for cooling a vertical wall of said liner and thereby collecting moisture from the air in said space, a warm dry compartment accessible for the storage of foods, and means for condensing water from the air of said compartment and draining it into direct contact with a heat dissipating portion of said system for re-evaporating the water so that its vapor mixes with the air of the room in which the refrigerator is located.

6. In a refirgerator cabinet, a warm dry compartment, a relatively cool compartment, a refrigerating system arranged to cool said relatively cool compartment. and a sealed secondary refrigerating system charged with a volatile refrigerant, said secondary system including an evaporator portion arranged to dehydrate air in said warm dry compartment and a condenser portion arranged to transfer a limited amount of heat to raid relatively cool compartment.

'1. In a refrigerator, a refrigerating system for cooling portions of said refrigerator, a condensing unit forming a part of said system and located adjacent to a rear wall of said refrigerator, a warm dry compartment accessible from the front of said refrigerator, closure means for said com partment arranged to substantially prevent the flow of air into and out of said compartment when the closure means is closed, means exposed to the air of aid warm dry compartment adapted to collect moisture from air contained therein, and means for conveying the moisture thus collected into contact with ambient air for the purpose of dissipating said moisture to the air of the room in which the refrigerator is located.

8. In a refrigerator having insulated outer walls, a refrigerating system, a food compartment enclosed by said walls and cooled by said system, a second compartment outside of said insulated walls, means for collecting water condensed within said food compartment, means for collecting water condensed from the air of said second compartment, and means for re-evaporating the water collected by both of the aforesaid means and discharging the water vapor thus formed to ambient air.

9. In a refrigerator, a refrigerated storage space, insulation surrounding said space. a small enclosure within said space arranged to be cooled by heat transfer to the air of said space, a warm dry storage space, and heat transfer means for condensing moisture from the air of said warm dry space by transferring a limited amount of heat from said warm dry space to said small enclosure.

10. In a refrigerator, a warm dry storage space. an opening for access to said space, a movable closure for said opening, a food storage space onclosed by insulated walls, means for cooling the last said space, and means forming a cold surface over which the air within said warm dry space is free to circulate, said means serving to condense moisture from the air of said warm dry storage space. and to transfer latent heat absorbed in condensing water vapor from said warm dry space to said cooled food storage space.

ii. In a refrigerator, a refrigerating system, means forming a plurality of spaces cooled by said system, means forming a space heated by said system. means for collecting water condensed from the air of one of said cooled spaces, means for transferring heat from said heated space to one of said cooled spaces and condensing water from the air of said heated space, and means for re-evaporating water condensed from the air of both of said spaces, the last said means serving to mingle the water vapor thus formed with ambient air.

12. In a refrigerator, an insulated compartment, means for cooling said compartment, a warm dry storage compartment exterior to the first said compartment, means for removing moisture from the air of the second said compartment including means having a moisture condensing surface over which the air of the second said compartment is free to circulate, and means for draining the condensed water thus collected away from contact with the air of said warm dry compartment.

13. In a refrigerator, a thermally insulated chamber, a refrigerating system arranged to cool said chamber, to condense moisture therein and to dissipate heat exterioriy thereof, a warm dry compartment for products to be maintained in a dehydrated condition, and means in heat transfer with said system for absorbing water vapor from the atmosphere of the last said compartment and re-evaporating said moisture to ambient air.

14. In a refrigerator, a thermally insulated chamber, a refrigerating system arranged to cool said chamber, to condense water vapor from the air of said chamber and to dissipate heat exteriorly thereof, a warm dry compartment for products to be maintained in a dehydrated condition, means for collecting moisture from the atmosphere of the last said compartment, and means for re-evaporating said moisture to ambient air, said evaporation being accomplished 9 with the aid of heat obtained from the heat dissipating portion of the refrigerating system.

15. In a refrigerator, a cold food storage space. a refrigerating system for removing heat from said space and dissipating it exteriorly thereof. means enclosing a space for storage or dry products, dehydrating means for said space comprising a moisture absorbing material. means for bringing said material into and out of contact with the air contained within said space for the purpose of dehydrating said air and dssipating the mosture thus collected to ambient air. the last said means being energized gravitationally by changes in the weight of said material due to changes of its moisture content.

16. In a refrigerator. an insulated enclosure. a refrigerating system including means for cooling said enclosure, a non-insulated warm dry compartment outside of said insulated enclosure, an opening for access to said warm dry compartment, a movable closure for said opening. means for cooling a portion of the air and water vapor mixture of said warm dry compartment to condense moisture therefrom by the absorption of latent heat thereof. and means for draining the water of condensation into heat exchange with a warm portion of said system to re-evapcrate said water and allow the resulting vapor to mix with ambient atmosphere.

17. In a refrigerator. an insulated enclosure, a refrigerating system including means for cooling said enclosure and condensing water from the atmosphere therein, a warm dry storage compartment outside of the first said enclosure. an access opening for said warm dry compartment, a movable closure for said opening. means forming a cooled surface exposed to air of the warm dry compartment to condense moisture therefrom. means for draining water of condensation from said insulated enclosure. and means for conveying the water of condensation from both sources into heat exchange with a warm portion of said system to re-evaporate said water and discharge the resulting vapor to ambient atmosphere.

1B. In a refrigerator. a storage space enclosed within said refrigerator by insulated walls. a refrigerating system including means arranged to cool said space and to condense water from the air and water vapor mixture within said space, an enclosed warm dry storage space outside of said insulated space, an access opening for said warm dry space. a movable closure for said opening. means for utilizing a cooling etfect resulting from the operation of said system to condense water vapor from the air and water vapor mixture within said warm dry space. and means for draining said water of condensation from both spaces to a water evaporating device adapted to discharge water vapor to ambient air.

19. In a refrigerator cabinet. a food storage space. a refrigerating system for removing heat from said space and dissipating said heat exterlorly thereof, a warm dry storage space containing air of relatively low humidity. an opening for access to said warm dry space. a movable closure for said opening. means for collecting moisture from said air, and means dissipating it to ambient air.

GLENN MUFFLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ills of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

